Reading roundup 08 edition.

[Nudemuse]

I went on a personal narrative binge in the last couple of months and read some really good shit.

ANSWER ME! when I could get it locally. This book was written while he was incarcerated due to the events he talks about in the book. Excellent, probably one of the stand out books I read this year.

I read a couple of memoirs one post mortem and one while he was still alive by David Wojnarowicz. Both are disjointed at times and it's jarring to read someones personal journals after they are dead but it's a good window into his life. He was a very interesting person and I really enjoy his art.

I read a bunch of the Feral House catalog. I also read Gore Vidal's memoir Palimpsest. He was actually a lot funnier than I thought he would be. There were some bright spots in fiction too.

I finally read those James Frey books after all the bullshit about their origins was over. Taken as fiction they are reasonably well written with some amusing literary tricks in them. He uses repetitive sounds, (can't think of the actual literary term at the moment) in a clever way. Not too often but often enough to slow the reader down to his speed.

I read a one of the JT Leroy books as well. Same thing as above I waited for the bullshit to die down. I had read some of Jt Leroy's (or whatever the actual authors name is) work previously, excerpts on various lit mags and a couple of anthologies. It's okay. I wasn't stunned into literary orgasm over them. Quick reading for me. I do like how some of the elements that were supposed to be shocking were handled in a matter of fact manner rather than the over wrought manner that tell-alls seems to harp on.

Overall book wise I read some really excellent stuff. I've been reading some excellent essayists and spend too many hours searching down essay.

[Morning Glory]

good to see you on here muse.

I've read a shitload of books this year. I have a reading compulsion. I'm afraid that I will not have anything to read, so I always read like five books at once and usually never finish most of them. I'd say I probably bought at least 6 or 8 books this year that I haven't read or finished yet.

but I've read some really great books this year, it may be the best year of books here's a few off the top of my head.

IT by Steven King
Rant by Chuck Palahniuk
House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski (one of my top ten favorite books)
and a bunch of stuff by HP Lovecraft.

[Nudemuse]

Good to see you MG.

Was Rant worth the hype? I have a thing about books that get a shitload of hype. I fell off of the Chucky P bandwagon there for a bit.

[Morning Glory]

I'd say probably not. Most things are never worth the hype.

I really liked it, but then most people I know didn't. I can see how the books that I posted seem to be either love or hate.

[Mr Karl]

I read a whole series by steven erikson, my daughter lent me haunted by chuck palanohuik and some book called trainspotting

that's about it for storybooks this year

[Nudemuse]

MG yeah. I will probably read it since I've read everything else of his. I loved House of Leaves.

Trainspotting is one of my favorite books ever. If you liked it you should read Porno by the same author.

[Mr Karl]

I actually didn't like trainspotting...............I just wanted to see what my daughter was reading, maybe twenty years or so ago I would have liked it

[mystoo]

MG yeah. I will probably read it since I've read everything else of his. I loved House of Leaves.

Trainspotting is one of my favorite books ever. If you liked it you should read Porno by the same author.

I love love love Irvine Welsh. May I suggest you read ALL his stuff. His last two aren't the greatest but, I heard a rumor that in the works is a prequel to Trainspotting. Yay!

[VoltaireBlue]

a biography of the follies berger, the last harry potter book, fairest; the coolest version of snow white EVAR, several manga series, and more cookbooks than I can count.

oh yeah, and a book on all different kinds of produce.

[Mindgames]

Fixed the first paragraph links:-

I went on a personal narrative binge in the last couple of months and read some really good shit.

Shit Magnet: One Man's Miraculous Ability to Absorb the World's Guilt by Jim Goad. I read ANSWER ME! when I could get it locally.

[Nudemuse]

Thank you for fixing that I hadn't noticed.

I dig Irvine Welsh I think the only books of his I haven't read already are the ones out in the last few years.

Voltaire did you ever see that version of Snow White that was scary? I think it had Sigourney Weaver in it. It's old but it was really good. Snow White: A Tale of Terror

I just got a copy of the Mac Cosmetics bible and I am so excited to play with it. Squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.

[VoltaireBlue]

Voltaire did you ever see that version of Snow White that was scary? I think it had Sigourney Weaver in it. It's old but it was really good. Snow White: A Tale of Terror

no, I hadn't. thanx, i'll check it out.